802 MANUAL OF MODERN FARRIERY. 



vails, especially where well wooded, and mountainous dis- 

 tricts afford shelter and food. They are also met with in 

 the islands of Sky and Mull, but not on the Shetland and 

 Orkney Islands. 



The bases of liills in heathy and mountainous districts, 

 which are covered with a natural growth of birch, alder, and 

 willow, and intersected by morasses, clothed with long and 

 coarse herbage, as well as the deep and wooded glens so fre- 

 quently occurring in the extensive Highland wastes, are the 

 favourite resorts of this noble bird, and most favourable to 

 its increase. During the first months of autumn and winter 

 the males associate, and live in flocks, but separate in March 

 and April ; and, being polygamous, each individual chooses 

 some particular station, from whence he drives all intruders, 

 and for the possession of which, when they are numerous, 

 desperate contests often take place. At this station he con- 

 tinues, every morning and evening during the pairing season, 

 repeating his call of invitation to the other sex, and display- 

 ing a variety of attitudes, not unlike those of a turkey-cock, 

 accompanied by a crowing note, and by another similar to 

 the noise made by the whetting of a scythe. At this season 

 the plumage exhibits the richest glossy aspect, displaying 

 the iridescent play of metallic greens, blues, purples and 

 black, surpassing the richest satin, and the red skin of his 

 eyebrows assumes an intensely livid colour. With the- 

 cause that urged their temporary separation their animosity 

 ceases, and the male birds again associate, and live harmo- 

 niously together. 



The male bird is entirely black, except the tops of the 

 secondary quills, which are tipped with white, and the under 

 tail coverts, which are pure white. The female is entirely 

 different in colours, and smaller in size. The head and neck, 

 ochreous yellow, rayed with black ; the upper parts, orange- 



